Archbishop Kasujja warns youth against immorality, laziness

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The Emeritus Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, has challenged Uganda's young people to emulate the courage, discipline and faith of the Uganda Martyrs by rejecting immorality, corruption, laziness and other vices that continue to undermine society.

Speaking during Holy Mass at the Catholic Shrine Martyrs Basilica in Namugongo, Wakiso district, on Wednesday (June 3), Kasujja said the witness of the Uganda Martyrs remains relevant today, particularly for young people navigating growing social and moral challenges.

He said: “My dear brothers and sisters, especially young of Ugandans, our Martyrs who were majority young like you, they invite us today follow in their footsteps, to influence and change the issue the of our society and resist the temptation of today; corruption, morality, laziness, land grabbing, injustice enrichments and family conflicts and felinities, brethren nothing possible to resist if we create a new spiritual prayer with God.

A nurse measuring a Christian before enter the Catholic Shrine premises on June 3, 2026. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

Archbishop Kasujja made the remarks while preaching during Holy Mass at the Catholic Shrine Martyrs Basilica in Namugongo, where this year's Martyrs Day prayers were held in place of the traditional open-air celebrations.

He was assisted by 13 priests from different parishes, including the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Uganda, Fr Georges Kwami Kouwonou, who represented Pope Leo XIV on behalf of the Papal Nuncio. Others included Fr George, the shrine rector, Fr Vincent Lubega, head of the White Fathers in Uganda, and Fr Richard Nyombi.

The celebrations were also attended by a group of 25 choir members from Germany who had travelled to join this year's host diocese, Kasese. However, because of the Ebola outbreak, they were unable to participate as originally planned.

Strict health measures were observed at Namugongo, with all worshippers screened and having their temperatures checked before entering the shrine to prevent the spread of Ebola.

Furthermore, the prelate said that the “Pope Paul VI statement on the canonisation continued challenging all Christians and non-Christians in Uganda to follow in the ecumenical footsteps of our poor fathers in faith. When Pope Paul VI travelled later in Uganda and visited both shrines (Catholics and Anglicans) on August 2, 1969, he said that your Martyrs teach us just who the true Christians should be, especially young African Christians. They were courageous, strong and firm in faith. We pray that we acquire the advice of the Pope.”

The Archbishop also reminded worshippers at the Namugongo Basilica of remarks made by Pope Paul VI during the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs. On October 18, 1964, at St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Paul VI canonised 22 Catholic martyrs from Uganda.

Kasujja explained that St Charles Lwanga was burnt at the site where the Catholic shrine now stands, while other martyrs continued to Nakiyanja-Namugongo, where they were executed alongside 13 Anglican martyrs.

He said their sacrifice remains a powerful example of ecumenical witness and solidarity in the Christian faith.

The prelate noted that the martyrs encouraged one another in faith and Christian values even as they shed their blood for Christ, an example that continues to inspire believers today.

Shrine rector

Fr Lubega said Namugongo is an international pilgrimage destination that normally hosts millions of people from countries across Africa, Asia and Europe.

Although this year's celebrations were scaled down following restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak, he welcomed the opportunity for Christians to gather and pray.

He said: “We are happy that President Yoweri Museveni didn’t refuse us to gather and pray.”

Fr Lubega added that “as they asked all Christians to commemorate the day from their respective parishes and Dioceses, we urged all the parishioners to follow the SOPs we have provided, we have the medical workers on the site who are helping us measure the temperature to everyone, sanitisers and fumigate the shrine every time after masses.

“To cater to this, we have put several Masses to avoid people being squeezed in the Shrine, and we asked them to keep their distance.”

About Uganda Martyrs

Uganda Martyrs Day is a national public holiday celebrated annually on June 3. It commemorates the 45 Christian converts, comprising 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans, who were executed by Kabaka Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887.

The 22 Catholic martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV and canonised on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.

Apart from the 22 martyrs, Christians also commemorate Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, catechists in northern Uganda who were killed at Paimol in 1915.

For the Catholic Church, Martyrs Day celebrations are organised on a rotational basis among the country's four ecclesiastical provinces.